Honiton golfers glad to be back

Sun Am Winter League - members finally seem to have had a full week’s programme of games starting with the fourth round of the Sun Am Winter League, writes Andy Wagner.

There were no real surprises in the matches but competitors were just relieved to be out playing again in half decent weather.

The real surprises came in the clubhouse afterwards where members learned for the first time of their unexpected successes in the pre Christmas draw! We’ve been a long time away!

●Tuesday Mixed - 26 members played in this week’s Mixed Competition - but due to adverse weather conditions with not all of the pairings were able to complete the course - not even 14 holes - the competition became a nine hole event.

The winners with 18pts on c/b were Carole and Alan Booth. In second place, losing out on c/b, also 18pts, were Celia Hamlett and Paul Witton. Third placed, with 17pts again on c/b, were Sue Ritchie and Max Pipe.

●Ladies’ Section - Just four clubs and a putter were needed in this week’s Greensome competition and, with the going heavy, it was an advantage to be able to hit a country mile.

With 3/8ths combined handicap to count, Henrietta Bradshaw and Tricia Swindell proved up to the challenge and came first in the 18 hole competition with a score of 32 Stableford points; while not far behind, and in second place, were Sue Ritchie and Ann Trayling on 30 points.

Third place went to Jackie Seager and Jane Watts with 25 points, and Anne Davies and Elizabeth Davies scraped into fourth place on c/b with 21 points.

In the 10 hole competition Jeanne Mackinnon and Barbara Mullett were first with 14 points, with Linda McLaughlin and Carole Booth in second with 12 points.

●Seniors’ Section - Sixty two seniors started out on their first medal round of the year on a bright, frosty morning full of hope but as usual the course gave little away and only four players beat par.

Andy Sharland won division one with a 66. John Fleetwood came second with 68 and Malcolm Matthews, John Lamb and Dave Maggs took the other prizes.

In division two Phil Faulkner scored a net 64 to win but the the best score of the day cost him: he was shown a red card and will play the rest of the winter season with his handicap cut by two shots.

Peter Dart was the runner-up with a 66, followed by Ron Cooper, Bill Eaton and David Price.